(I recently posted on Facebook a quote from a Spurgeon sermon that was helpful to one of our members, with whom I later chatted about the issue. I thought others may find an article on the matter helpful…)
On occasion, when we hear a stirring sermon or song, or when we are in the presence of one who obviously knows and loves the Lord, we can be moved to ponder our own lack of love for the Savior. We know that we should love Him. We want to love Him. But we don’t love Him as we should or want to.
This can cause all sorts of doubt, despondency, or depression. The obvious impulse is to do whatever we can to love Him more, perhaps as a sheer act of the will. We purpose to spend more time reading the Bible, more time praying, more time serving others…more time doing things that look like love for the Savior.
Certainly, the impulse to do loving things is commendable, but what we’re really looking for is a growing affection in our hearts for the Savior. Does affection for the Lord grow by doing loving things, or by squeezing our eyes shut, clenching our fists, and forcing out loving thoughts? Experience has taught most of us that love for Christ does not work its way backward from action to affection. Rather, He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Affection comes first; loving actions proceed from it.
Praise God that countless saints have walked this road before us and have noticed in the Word a panacea for dullness toward the Savior. It comes to us in various passages, but perhaps, nowhere more clearly than in 1 John 4:19:
We love because He first loved us.
Our love for the Lord is a result of His love for us. We can then grow in love, not by focusing on our own affections or the lack thereof, but by gazing at the inexplicable and immeasurable love of Christ for us.
Here is the quote I posted to this effect from Spurgeon’s sermon entitled, “The Secret of Love to God:”
“I know that some of you are greatly distressed because you cannot love Christ as much as you would like to do, and you keep on fretting because it is so. Now, just forget your own love to him, and think of his great love to you; and then, immediately, your love will come to something more like that which you would desire it to be.”
The phenomenon of Christ’s love stirring up our love for Him is something of a theme in the writings of the giants of the faith. Here is Richard Sibbes from his, “The Tender Heart:”
“As when things are cold we bring them to the fire to heat and melt, so bring we our hearts to the fire of the love of Christ; consider we of our sins against Christ, and of Christ’s love towards us… Think what great love Christ hath showed unto us, and how little we have deserved, and this will make our hearts to melt, and be as pliable as wax before the sun.”
There are several ways to do what Spurgeon, Sibbes, and others recommend. First, meditate on Scriptures pertaining to Christ’s love for us. A few suggested passages: Matt 26-28; John 13-17; Rom 8:31-39; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2, 25-27; 1 John 3:16. Squeeze every drop out of these passages, as would a Puritan, considering the significance of every last word in every last verse. Consider that each passage speaks to you specifically.
Second, read gospel-rich books dedicated to this topic. The Puritans are a treasure trove here. The Heart of Christ, Thomas Goodwin. Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, John Bunyan. Christ, A Complete Savior, John Bunyan. All Loves Excelling, John Bunyan. The Bruised Reed, Richard Sibbes. The Love of Christ, Richard Sibbes. Then there some modern favorites…Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund. Rejoicing in Christ, Michael Reeves.
Third, read or listen to targeted sermons on the love of Christ. Spurgeon’s sermon referenced above (“The Secret of Love to God”) would be a blessing to anyone. You could also search the online archives of your favorite preachers for “the love of Christ.”
Fourth, create a “Love of Christ” playlist on your phone. We spend so much time in the car, doing chores, and other things that don’t require mental engagement. Why not fill some of that time with musical lyrics highlighted the love of Christ? Several years ago, I started this practice. If a song we sing on Sunday morning stirs up my affection for the Lord Jesus, it goes on my playlist.
Fifth, meet with others. Schedule a regular coffee (or Coke Zero!) meeting with a Christian brother or sister to read/listen to one of the above and discuss it together, with intention to stir one another up to love and good works (Heb 10:24-35).
We love because He first loved us. Let us then go to Him, magnifying His love in our own attention, thoughts, and conversation. And may His love do what it alone can…move us to deep affection for Him.
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